“We both have to live with it.”
“Kasey is dead. Maybe—”
“I get it, Ana. You want me to feel guilty. You want me to be destroyed by his death, and by your grief, but I’m not going to do either of those things. I believe I saved your life. And we’ve had enough discussions over Kasey. He might as well have pulled the trigger himself. Stop blaming me and Luke for what that little shit did to all of us.”
I push off the island and back right into Luke, who’s still sitting on his stool. His hands come down on my hips, and he steadies me. His touch is fire, yes, but it is also a warm blanket on a cold night, the gentle comfort of partnership something I lost, but I’ve found again. Just like I’ve found Kurt again. Tears pierce my eyes and I don’t even think about what comes next. I round the island and Kurt is there to meet me, pulling me into a bear hug, holding me too tight, the way my father would the daughter he thought he’d never hold again.
He speaks into my ear, at my neck, for my ears only. “I’m sorry, honey. I really am. I just needed to protect you, the way I didn’t protect your mom.”
In all my life, I’ve never heard Kurt apologize for anything, but that reference to not protecting my mom, that’s what gets me. I’m undone. I’m bawling like a baby. When I pull my shit together, and Kurt releases me, Luke is there, kissing me before he motions to the other room. “We’re going to give you some time.”
I nod, and in a moment it seems, it’s just me and Kurt, sitting at the island, steaming cups of coffee in our hands. Two grown adults, catching up on old times while plotting the end of our enemies. That’s what our family time looks like and it’s a good thing. A really good thing. Something worth fighting for. Even killing for.